Building Anti-Racist Schools:
Strategies to talk About Race and
Racism with Students
Resource Guide
Border Crossers
71 5th Avenue, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10003
www.bordercrossers.org
[email protected]
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What is Racism? How does it Manifest?
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RACE is a specious system of human classification invented by Europeans who would
come to be categorized as White.1 Shared physical characteristics including skin
color, hair texture, and bone structure are used to reinforce the idea of race, but may
not provide accurate information regarding racial identity.
RACISM is a system of social structures that provides or denies access, safety,
resources and power based on race categories and produces and reproduces racebased inequities.
Racism is different from discrimination or racial prejudice.
Racism is race discrimination plus power.
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Institutional Racism is the way racism manifests itself within various
institutions in society. This includes the policies and practices that perpetuate
a cycle of racial inequity and are promoted (overtly or subtly) by institutions
(i.e. schools, government, housing, media).
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Interpersonal Racism is consciously or subconsciously discriminating against a
person or a group simply because of their race. This is usually manifested
through communication (verbal or non-verbal) or actions. It occurs when
those with racial privilege (typically White people) discriminate against,
isolate, minimize the experience of or oppress those with no (historical)
structural power (typically People of Color). Interpersonal racism occurs
during, but not limited to, interactions that occur within schools, communities
and our daily intercommunications.2
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Internalized Racism is an individual’s conscious or subconscious acceptance
of a racial hierarchy in which White people are consistently ranked above
People of Color3. It is manifested by, but not limited to, exhibiting patterns of
thinking that one’s racial group is inferior (i.e. as questioning ones’ self worth
based on their racial identity) or/and or thinking aspects of the dominant
culture are superior (i.e. assuming Whiteness is the ‘normal’).4
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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INSTITUTIONAL!
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INTERPERSONAL!
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INTERNALIZED!
Adapted from the CARLE Institute:www.carleinstitute.com
Adapted from SDC: http://www.sdcampusnetwork.org/ht/a/GetDocumentAction/i/6523
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Robin Nicole Johnson: “The Psychology of Racism: How Internalized Racism, Academic Self-Concept, and Campus
Racial Climate Impact the Academic Experiences and Achievement of African American Undergraduates.”
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Adapted from TAARM: http://www.div17.org/TAAR/media/topics/internalized-racism.php!
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Strategies for Creating Racial Equity
In Classrooms and Schools
Short-Term Strategies
"How can I respond in the MOMENT to situations related to race or racism in my
classroom?"
Breathe
Take a breath to pause and ground yourself before responding to a challenging situation.
Continue to breathe throughout your conversation. Be aware of body language and tone.
Affirm the Child
Affirm the humanity of each child, even when it is necessary to re-direct or hold a child
accountable. Validate that each child is seen and heard.
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“That’s a really great question/observation.”
“Good question. I know that sometimes adults have trouble figuring it out…”
“That’s a good observation. Sometimes I wonder the same thing…”
“Yes, and…”
“Thank you for saying/asking that…”
Inquire
Ask questions to get more information about what is going on in a situation. Apply active
listening to hear what is being said, and what isn’t being said.
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“What do you mean by…?”
“What are you feeling?”
“Can you tell me more?”
Continue The Conversation
Think about whether or not it’s the appropriate time to continue the conversation.
Sometimes emotions are high and it might be best to come back to the conversation at a
later time. Once you are ready to have the conversation, open it to other perspectives,
including your own. Bring your own racial identity into the conversation and share with
students your perspective based on that identity.
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“Sometimes in society…”
“How do other people feel….?”
“As a (insert racial identity) person, my perspective is…….”
“Where do you think we learn these messages?”
“How do you think we can change that?”
“I want to think more about this and will get back to you.”
www.bordercrossers.org
Intervene
Some situations require intervention without conversation—especially when students’
immediate physical or emotional safety is at stake. That said, use this type of intervention
sparingly, and remember that you can still ensure emotional safety while allowing yourself
and your students to take risks that may feel uncomfortable in the moment.
Apply a Racial Equity Lens
Be mindful of how institutional, interpersonal or internalized racism is manifesting in the
particular situation, and how the students may be consciously or subconsciously responding
as a result. Applying a racial equity lens allows for uncovering the structures, policies and
behaviors that sustain unequal outcomes for students based on race.
Follow Up
Though racial prejudice or racism may show up in the classroom in the form of a comment or
action, this behavior is only a symptom of a larger system of racial oppression in society.
Ensure ongoing follow-up to address the larger systemic racism and to promote racial equity
in your classroom and school community.
Long Term Strategies
How can I Promote Racial Equity in my Classroom and School?
Continue to Educate Yourself about Race and Racism
• Continue to learn about the history of race and racism in the United States
• Explore how racial privilege and/ or oppression (including internalized racism) has
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affected you. Become aware of your own triggers around race and racism.
Think about how race or racial bias has played a role in your life as an educator: What
impact has it had on your curriculum, your pedagogy and the way you relate to
students, colleagues and families?
Create Dialogue about Race and the Impact of Systemic Racism
• Have intentional conversations among the adults at your school (through professional
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development, learning circles, working groups)
Explore how racism is impacting your schools and communities on a systemic level
Create affinity spaces that can provide spaces for deeper dialogue about the affects
of racism and strategize for change
Analyze School Structures through a Racial Equity Lens
• When exploring curriculum, ask yourself: Whose story is being told through my
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Build
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curriculum? Whose stories are not being told?
Apply a racial equity lens when discussing disciplinary policies, opportunities for
youth and parent voice, professional development offerings
Alliances
Create intentional opportunities to discuss the impact of race and racism
Create structures that will help with accountability around issues of race and racism
Form alliances within your school community (across and within racial groups)
Connect to a larger network of racial justice educators, organizers and advocates
www.bordercrossers.org
program offerings
Through this training, educators explore the impact
of unconscious bias on the academic and social
emotional development of students. Educators
gain tools to recognize and address their own racial
biases, and learn how these biases affect curriculum,
pedagogy and relationships with students, families
and colleagues. Participants will identify instances
where they themselves may have witnessed or
committed racial microaggressions, and gain
strategies to interrupt them.
Talking About Impact: Addressing Our
Unconscious Bias as Educators
This training provides parents, guardians and
caregivers with strategies for how to talk about race
and racism with their children. Participants learn how
children see race, gain skills for approaching ageappropriate conversations with a racial equity lens,
and practice strategies to promote positive racial
identity development in children.
Talking About Race for Parents: Raising
Children for Racial Justice
Through this training, educators strengthen their
analysis of how racism manifests in schools and
classrooms, enhance their understanding of how
racism affects children, practice utilizing tools to
address race and racism with students, and gain
strategies to support a school-wide culture of respect,
equity and inclusivity.
Talking About Race in the Classroom:
A Training for Educators Committed to
Racial Justice
“Prior to attending the Border Crossers workshop, I was unsure whether or not to talk openly
about race with young learners. After the workshop, I made race a core focus of my lessons as
an ethics educator. Furthermore, because of my
experience with Border Crossers, I have been
able to navigate conversations with students and
colleagues around the horrific racial injustices
that have taken place in this nation recently, and
have allowed myself to be more honest and bold
in these conversations.”
what people are saying
Border Crossers customizes training and support for
schools and educational organizations dedicated to
enhancing racial equity and justice in their institutions.
This includes, but is not limited to: coaching,
curriculum development, strategic planning, and
training for stakeholders.
Customized Trainings
Race in the Classroom”)
This training, designed for teams of individuals who
exercise leadership roles in educational institutions,
explores how to promote racially equitable outcomes
for students beyond the walls of individual classrooms.
Teams will assess the degree to which racial equity
is upheld in school culture, structures, policies and
curriculum. They will brainstorm, prioritize and gain
strategies to implement racial justice initiatives at their
institutions.
Talking About Equity: Creating Racially
Equitable Schools (prerequisite: “Talking about
program offerings
Through this training, educators explore the impact
of unconscious bias on the academic and social
emotional development of students. Educators
gain tools to recognize and address their own racial
biases, and learn how these biases affect curriculum,
pedagogy and relationships with students, families
and colleagues. Participants will identify instances
where they themselves may have witnessed or
committed racial microaggressions, and gain
strategies to interrupt them.
Talking About Impact: Addressing Our
Unconscious Bias as Educators
This training provides parents, guardians and
caregivers with strategies for how to talk about race
and racism with their children. Participants learn how
children see race, gain skills for approaching ageappropriate conversations with a racial equity lens,
and practice strategies to promote positive racial
identity development in children.
Talking About Race for Parents: Raising
Children for Racial Justice
Through this training, educators strengthen their
analysis of how racism manifests in schools and
classrooms, enhance their understanding of how
racism affects children, practice utilizing tools to
address race and racism with students, and gain
strategies to support a school-wide culture of respect,
equity and inclusivity.
Talking About Race in the Classroom:
A Training for Educators Committed to
Racial Justice
“Prior to attending the Border Crossers workshop, I was unsure whether or not to talk openly
about race with young learners. After the workshop, I made race a core focus of my lessons as
an ethics educator. Furthermore, because of my
experience with Border Crossers, I have been
able to navigate conversations with students and
colleagues around the horrific racial injustices
that have taken place in this nation recently, and
have allowed myself to be more honest and bold
in these conversations.”
what people are saying
Border Crossers customizes training and support for
schools and educational organizations dedicated to
enhancing racial equity and justice in their institutions.
This includes, but is not limited to: coaching,
curriculum development, strategic planning, and
training for stakeholders.
Customized Trainings
Race in the Classroom”)
This training, designed for teams of individuals who
exercise leadership roles in educational institutions,
explores how to promote racially equitable outcomes
for students beyond the walls of individual classrooms.
Teams will assess the degree to which racial equity
is upheld in school culture, structures, policies and
curriculum. They will brainstorm, prioritize and gain
strategies to implement racial justice initiatives at their
institutions.
Talking About Equity: Creating Racially
Equitable Schools (prerequisite: “Talking about
Notes
Border Crossers * 71 5th Avenue, 6th Floor* New York, NY * 10003
www.bordercrossers.org*[email protected]